News

Prepare for your next ELD compliance audit

The era of ELD brings a new set of challenges for not only recording hours-of-service, but also how investigators conduct compliance reviews. Watch this educational recorded webinar featuring safety and compliance expert, Dave Osiecki, President of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, as he covers the ins and outs of FMCSA's compliance review/audit.You'll learn in-depth details about:How to prepare so you can pass your next compliance reviewFMCSA's eRODS software and how they use itThe records and ELD

New Research Documents the Realities of a National Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax

Arlington, Virginia – The American Transportation Research Institute today released a new report detailing the costs of deploying and operating a national vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax. This study was identified as a top research priority by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee in 2020.   With a goal of understanding the opportunities and challenges of a federal system, the research first explored the technical and administrative requirements of charging every U.S. driver for miles driven. Next the costs

SAIF declares $210 million dividend

To our group association partners: Today, SAIF declared a $210 million dividend for policyholders. The dividend will be distributed in July to policyholders based on their premium for policies whose term ended in 2020. The entire dividend will be distributed pro rata based on premium. This is the 12th year in a row SAIF has been able to offer a dividend and the 24th dividend since 1990. Like many businesses, SAIF has experienced some negative financial impacts due to the pandemic. However, SAIF’s overall

New CDC Guidance Provides Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People

Barran Liebman Electronic AlertsVolume 24, Issue 10March 8, 2021  New CDC Guidance Provides Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated PeopleBy Wilson Jarrell       This morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out its first set of public health recommendations for people who have been fully vaccinated.  This guidance can help provide direction not only to vaccinated individuals in their personal actions, but may also help guide employers in

Share Your Vision for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project Highway Covers

For more information, contact:  April deLeon-Galloway, 971-233-6514, april.m.deleon@odot.state.or.us March 3, 2020 We invite you to make your voice heard! Help determine the future development scenarios for the I-5 highway covers in the Rose Quarter area. The highway covers can add new community space above Interstate 5 between Interstates 84 and 405 in the Albina area. They have the potential to add economic value through redevelopment that truly reconnects the community. The space could be used for

Be prepared for chain inspection on I-84 east of Pendleton

March 3, 2021 For more information: Tom Strandberg ODOT Region 5 Public Information Officer, 541-663-6261, email: thomas.m.strandberg@odot.state.or.us PENDLETON - To help reduce the number of freeway closure due to trucks spinning out or crashing ODOT will perform chain inspections for eastbound traffic at the Interstate 84 Exit 224 Poverty Flat Interchange. Several variable message reader boards near Pendleton, at the bottom of Cabbage Hill and closer to the inspection site will advise travelers of

Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group complete creation of fuel-cell joint venture: cellcentric

Gothenburg, Sweden / Stuttgart, Germany – Daimler Truck AG and the Volvo Group today completed the transaction to form the previously announced fuel-cell joint venture. The Volvo Group has acquired 50 percent of the partnership interests in the existing Daimler Truck Fuel Cell GmbH & Co. KG for approximately SEK 6.3 billion (approximately EUR 0.6 billion) on a cash and debt-free basis. The ambition is to make the new joint venture a leading global manufacturer of fuel-cells, and thus help the world take a

Federal Motor Carrier medical card waiver extended to May 31, 2021

For more information: (503) 373-0000, option 1 for information about over-dimension loads; (503) 378-6699 for information about registration services   Feb. 23, 2021The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will continue to offer extensions on Medical Examination Certificate requirements for commercial drivers whose MEC has recently expired.FMCSA has had a waiver in place since March 2020 to allow commercial driver license holders who are subject to federal rules to continue to hold commercial

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is improving three ramps and a bridge in SW Portland

Project Overview The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is currently designing projects to improve the I-5 bridge at SW 26th Avenue and repair three ramps that access I-5 in SW Portland. These structural improvements will maintain and extend the life of our roadway system and give travelers a smoother ride. Learn more about this important project, visit the project webpage and sign up for updates at bit.ly/swi-5repair.Noise Variance Permit Notification ODOT is requesting a nighttime noise

FMCSA Update: Emergency Declaration Extension: 02.12.21

Within the last hour, FMCSA announced that they have extended the Emergency Declaration that was set to expire on February 28th. This extension includes the same regulatory relief for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to COVID-19, as included in the December 1st declaration.The expanded declaration published today is limited to the transportation of: Livestock and livestock feed;Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and

FMCSA CDL/CLP/Medical Examination Extensions: 02.16.21

Moments ago, FMCSA issued another extension to the previous CDL/CLP and Medical Examination waivers that were set to expire the end of this month. This waiver becomes effective on March 1, 2021 and expires on May 31, 2021. Please read the specific provisions below, as the dates and applicability vary. As with the previous extensions, state drivers licensing agencies (SDLAs) have the authority to exercise discretion in extending these dates, consistent with the outline below. Carriers and drivers should

International Roadcheck Set for May 4-6 with Emphasis on Lighting and Hours of Service

Greenbelt, Maryland (Feb. 2, 2021) – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has set May 4-6 as the dates for this year’s International Roadcheck. Over that 72-hour period, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct inspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers.   “CVSA shares the dates of International Roadcheck in advance to remind motor carriers and drivers of the importance of proactive vehicle maintenance and driver

French Prairie Rest Area Closure for Oversize Loads

For more information: (503) 373-0000, option 1 for information about over-dimension loads; (503) 378-6699 for information about registration services February 3, 2021WILSONVILLE – Beginning Monday, March 8, the I-5 southbound French Prairie Rest Area will be closed for loads greater than 10 feet 00 inches in width, an overall length greater than 67 feet 00 inches, and/or trailer length greater than 53 feet 00 inches at all hours. The estimated completion date for this project is April

EROAD announces Fleet Trends webinar series, partnership with Scopelitis Transportation Consulting

  PORTLAND, OR – January 26, 2021 – EROAD is launching Fleet Trends, a new and free virtual webinar series which aims to highlight important trucking topics facing carriers in 2021, including safety, compliance, and fleet management. The educational series will feature a variety of leading experts in transportation, technology, insurance and more.   EROAD has partnered with Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, who will be featured presenters in many of the Fleet Trends sessions. “Dave Osiecki and his

The Volvo Group creates business area dedicated to accelerating electrification

The new business area Volvo Energy will strengthen the Volvo Group’s business flow of batteries over the life cycle as well as the customer offer for charging infrastructure. At the same time, the environmental impact from electric and hybrid electric commercial vehicles and machines will be reduced by giving used batteries a second life in different applications. “There is a great and growing interest for electric vehicles and machines among our customers. This is of course very positive as it

Expert Panel: Becoming a Safer Bet (EROAD Webinar)

At EROAD's User Summit late last year we were joined by safety and compliance experts from SpeedGauge and Scopelitis Transportation Consulting to discuss how fleets can improve communications and culture to ultimately become a safer bet. Take a listen for key insights on mitigating risk, reducing insurance premiums and becoming a safer fleet in 2021.      WATCH NOW   EROAD: reliable, accurate and easy to use fleet technology EROAD delivers accurate, consistent data to drive your business. Solution

IANA Exemption granted: 396.17 Inspection Repair and Maintenance - Qualified and Brake Inspector

SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow individuals who complete a training program consistent with a set of Intermodal Recommended Practices (IRPs) and associated requirements that has been developed by IANA to be considered a qualified inspector or qualified brake inspector for intermodal equipment (IME) under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Real ID enforcement deadline delayed for one year

New Youngs Bay Bridge repair project to begin in March

Major bridge work to take over two years to completeASTORIA—Major repairs to the New Youngs Bay Bridge, an important connection between Astoria and Warrenton on U.S. 101, will begin in March. The extensive repair work is expected to take over two years to complete (2019-2021).What can the traveling public expect:Periodic single lane closures at night to allow the contractor to move equipment. The lane closures will be Sunday night through Friday morning, 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.;A complete two week night time